diff --git a/cmd/geth/snapshot.go b/cmd/geth/snapshot.go
index a0222dda22..53151f215e 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/snapshot.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/snapshot.go
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ func (ts *traverseSetup) traverseState(ctx context.Context, counters *traverseCo
 
 			if ts.config != nil {
 				// Skip branches that are entirely before startKey
-				if limitKey != nil && bytes.Compare(limitKey, ts.config.startKey) <= 0 {
+				if ts.config.startKey != nil && limitKey != nil && bytes.Compare(limitKey, ts.config.startKey) <= 0 {
 					return nil
 				}